Most people get geared up for hockey season. They look forward to being at the rink and watching their kids play ‘Canada’s national pastime’. Not me! I LOVE watching my boys race their motorbikes. Raceboy83 started on a little KTM 50. He literally took us all over Canada chasing the dream…of a 6 year old child! We went to Walton, Ontario with him that year for the Canadian Amateur Nationals. He placed 12th in all of Canada. He has continued to ride well…being at the top of his class since then. He has also somehow convinced raceboy82 that he too should race…something raceboy82 had no interest in!
Racing has its ups and downs…but I have stood by and watched as a little boy who was to scared to go around the racetrack without mom or dad following on the side has grown into a young man who is not intimated by much. Have you ever witnessed up to 40 swarming little bees fighting for their spot on the line?? And when the gate drops and those swarming bees take off and fight for who will come out of the first corner in the lead…every mother,father, and innocent bystander holds their breath…praying ALL of the riders come out on 2 wheels! It has taught my boys the spirit of competition, they have made lifelong friends from all over Canada and the USA. Some of those friends are other rider’s parents, officials, refs or announcers and riders of all levels and ages. It has also taught them hardship and life lessons. They have stood and watched as close friends have been paralyzed and fought for their lives. In those hard and upsetting situations they have been on the front lines helping with fundraisers, showing support and even donating their hard earned money to those friends and their families. They have rejoiced in each others victories and consoled each other in their losses…they know all of the dangers and they chose to race for the love of the sport.
I remember when raceboy83 was 2…he wanted to be a bullfighter. I was horrified. I did not want my child to be involved in something that had such good odds of harming him. I used to sing that song ” momma don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys” to raceboy83…hoping it would sink in! I was reminded of that song last year when he had asked me to come out and watch him practice…and to bring my camera. I was so involved in watching him through my viewfinder that I forgot to watch him when he was out of my view. I should have known better than to stand on the blind side of the jump. I felt a rush of air and faintly heard him over the roar of his engine…as he landed within inches of where I was standing. As he wheeled around to talk to me…and I was recovering from realizing that I just about was made a pancake by my son…he says to me…
“hey mom, cowboys don’t have nothing on us!!!”
He revs his engine, throws it into gear and peppers me with dirt…smiling and loving every minute of it. This is the resulting picture from that day. If you look at his eyes you can see he is already telling me to move. Ahhh good times! is what he would say about it!
The season starts this weekend. Both the boys are racing. It is a new year for them. Raceboy83 moves up in age category and raceboy82 will be moving from a 65 to an 80 by the end of the year. I will be at home with Dolly…waiting for the phone to ring…for whatever news the weekend brings. Good luck this season boys, be safe, ride hard, and have fun! And make sure you call mom between your motos!
